What is the Gabba?
The Gabba is a sports stadium in the Brisbane suburb of Woolloongabba, Queensland. It hosts Test cricket and is the home ground of the Brisbane Lions in the AFL. Its official name is the Brisbane Cricket Ground.
The ground was established in the 1890s and has hosted Test cricket since 1931. The nickname Gabba comes from the suburb's name.
The stadium was rebuilt in stages during the 1990s and early 2000s, and holds about 42,000 people. It is round, with steep stands that create a loud atmosphere.
The fortress
The Gabba was long known as Australia's fortress in Test cricket. Australia went unbeaten in Tests at the ground from 1988 until January 2021, when India won a famous match to clinch the series.
The Gabba has also hosted rugby league, rugby union, soccer and concerts. It was home to the Brisbane Bears and then the Brisbane Lions, who won three premierships in 2001 to 2003.
The ground hosted the 2020 AFL Grand Final, the first held outside Victoria. Plans for its future, including whether it would be redeveloped for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, have been the subject of public debate.
Did You Know?
The Gabba traditionally hosts the first Test of the Australian summer.